Marvel: Twelve Talismans, Hammering Hulk at the Beginning
Chapter 1: Hell Begins?
"Where am I?"
Lin Chen looked around blankly, his mind like a tangled ball of yarn that a cat had played with.
A second ago, he was curled up on the sofa in his rental apartment, enjoying the air conditioning at 16 degrees Celsius, slurping instant noodles with double the chili oil, and watching the latest episode of Loki's most famous scene on screen.
The next second, a massive, unexplainable suction force suddenly grabbed him, and amidst the spinning world, he landed with a "thud" in this unfamiliar place.
The air was hot, humid, and mixed with the stench of garbage and a strong, unidentifiable spice.
Surrounding him were dilapidated, low-rise houses of varying heights and mottled colors, their walls covered in messy graffiti.
Above his head, power lines crisscrossed like a spiderweb, and beneath his feet was an uneven flagstone path, with a puddle of sewage nearby emitting a sickening odor.
"Brazil… favela?"
As a seasoned movie enthusiast who had seen "City of God" and "Elite Squad," he almost instantly recognized this iconic scene.
"No way? Playing such a big game? Transmigrating is one thing, but why throw me into a beginner's hell right from the start?"
He looked down at himself and almost cried.
A faded, plain White T-shirt, SpongeBob-printed board shorts, and on his feet, a single left flip-flop, the right one God knows where.
Standard slacker attire for a shut-in; forget fighting, he was afraid the flip-flop would fly off if he ran a few steps.
The only difference was his waist.
A weathered leather lope belt was slung diagonally across his waist, thick and heavy, with a faint smell of beef tallow, like an old artifact from some nomadic tribe.
Twelve palm-sized octagonal stone plates were evenly embedded in the lope belt, each carved with a lifelike animal totem.
"Holy crap, the lope belt???!"
"The twelve talismans?!"
Lin Chen's eyes instantly widened like copper bell (bronze bells)!
Wasn't this thing the treasure of the Holy Master in "Jackie Chan Adventures"? How did it end up on him?
He tried to touch it and suddenly hissed in pain.
"What the hell is going on?"
Lin Chen, bewildered, lifted his T-shirt and clearly saw that the lope belt seemed to have grown out of his waist, perfectly embedded just below his navel.
It was like a layer of his own skin.
He tried to move, and it hurt a little.
Lin Chen was speechless. Had this lope belt somehow merged with his body?
Or was it a side effect of the transmigration, that its placement was messed up and it got stuck inside him?
"Friend, excuse me."
Just as he was puzzled and about to examine the lope beltmore closely, a flippant voice with a heavy Portuguese accent suddenly came from the alley entrance.
Lin Chen abruptly looked up.
Three dark-skinned men with unfriendly eyes blocked the alley entrance; the bald man in the lead was tossing a gleaming butterfly knife.
The bald man blabbered a lot of gibberish that Lin Chencouldn't understand.
But he understood the man's mouth shape and the gesture pointing to his wallet.
"Robbery?"
Lin Chen's mouth twitched.
"No way… buddy, isn't my start a bit too hellish?"
Seeing no reaction from him, the bald man frowned and said something again.
This time, he uttered a word Lin Chen could understand.
"Money!"
"I have no money."
Lin Chen spread his hands; he really had no money. He had transmigrated, and his pockets were emptier than his face.
"Search him!"
The bald man clearly lost patience and waved his hand at his two subordinates.
One subordinate grinned and rushed forward, reaching out to grab Lin Chen's T-shirt.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Lin Chen subconsciously took a step back, his right hand frantically pressing on the lope belt at his waist.
His palm landed right on a stone plate carved with an Ox totem!
"Buzz—!"
A scorching power, almost melting his soul, instantly erupted from that Ox Talisman stone plate!
The heat rushed along his arm, wildly pouring into his limbs and bones!
Lin Chen felt as if his body had been injected with molten steel; every muscle groaned under the strain, then was instantly strengthened to an unbelievable degree.
Power!
Endless power!
"Get lost!"
Extreme panic intertwined with the sudden explosive power, leaving Lin Chen's mind blank. He almost instinctively threw a punch at the thug rushing him!
He missed with that punch.
His fist grazed the thug's ear and solidly slammed into the mottled concrete wall next to him.
There was no sound of bones breaking as he expected.
"Boom—!!!!"
A deafening roar echoed, shaking the entire alley three times!
Centered on Lin Chen's fist, the thick concrete wall instantly shattered as if hit head-on by a battering ram!
Countless shattered stones mixed with dust shot out in all directions!
A terrifying hole, over a meter in diameter, suddenly appeared in the wall!
The entire world fell silent.
The sneers on the faces of the two thugs froze.
The bald man at the alley entrance dropped his butterfly knife with a "clank."
Three pairs of eyes stared intently at the large hole in the wall, then slowly, like rusty robots, turned to Lin Chen, who was still in his punching pose.
And his… unharmed fist.
"Diabo (Devil)…"
The bald man's lips trembled, squeezing out a shaky word.
The next second, he turned and ran, scrambling and stumbling, wishing his parents had given him two more legs.
The other two thugs, as if waking from a dream, let out pig-like screams and, pissing themselves, followed their boss, fleeing the terrifying alley.
"I… I did that?"
Lin Chen slowly retracted his fist, staring blankly at his palm.
His skin was perfectly intact, without even a red mark.
He then looked at the huge hole in the wall and the bewildered Brazilian woman behind the opening.
A chill shot from his tailbone straight to the top of his head!
"Holy crap…"
"Ox Talisman… Super Strength!"
"This is real!!!"
After the immense shock came a volcanic eruption of ecstasy!
Fear? Confusion?
To hell with that!
He had a cheat code! He was the chosen one!
His back, bent for over twenty years, finally straightened at this moment… However, just as Lin Chen was immersed in immense excitement… "Rumble Rumble—!!!!"
In the distance, an explosion a hundred times more terrifying than his punch just now soared into the sky.
The Earth trembled violently!
Then came the dense, machine-gun-like rattle of heavy machine guns, and… a non-human, wild roar!
"Roar—!!!"
The roar was filled with endless fury, as if it wanted to tear the sky apart!
"What the hell is it now?"
Lin Chen was startled by the commotion; his recently inflated confidence instantly jumped to his throat again.
He suppressed his curiosity and fear, cautiously ran out of the alley, and looked in the direction of the sound.
Then, he saw it.
The end of the street was a mess.
Overturned cars were burning, armored vehicles were torn into scrap metal, and fully armed soldiers were frantically unleashing firepower on a figure.
That figure… it was a monster over three meters tall, with bulging muscles all over its body, and skin displaying a powerfully oppressive green color!
Bullets hitting it were like tickles; they merely sparked and had no effect.
It casually grabbed the barrel of a tank, swung the entire tank like a baseball bat, and sent it flying, collapsing a building!
"Hulk… Hulk?"
Lin Chen's eyes almost popped out of his sockets.
He looked at the green giant rampaging through a hail of bullets, then lowered his gaze to the ancient lope belt at his waist.
An absurd, yet incredibly exciting thought, wildly grew in his mind.
"Holy crap…"
"This time… it really is a hellish start…"
Chapter 2 I seem to be in big trouble
Lin Chen's Adam's apple bobbed violently.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
The scene before him was more shocking, real, and deadly than any IMAX movie he had ever seen.
That wasn't special effects.
Every punch from the green behemoth brought with it a sonic boom that tore through the air!
Every leap it made was like a meteor striking the ground, causing the entire block to tremble!
Tanks were as fragile as children's toys in front of him.
Soldiers, armed to the teeth, were more like a swarm of ants clamoring around a giant dragon.
"This is definitely the opening of 'The Incredible Hulk'..."
"Which means I'm currently in the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro..."
"And that green fatty wreaking havoc is Bruce Banner, who hasn't yet learned to control his power!"
Lin Chen's brain raced, trying to match the reality before him with the plot from his memories.
But reality, apparently, wasn't going to give him much time to think.
"Whoosh!"
An out-of-control ricochet bullet, whistling sharply, spun and shot towards his face!
The shadow of death rapidly expanded in his pupils.
"Holy crap!"
Lin Chen's hair stood on end instantly!
He had no time to think; his survival instinct drove his body to try and dodge.
But how could a person be faster than a bullet?
And just at this critical moment, something Lin Chen hadn't expected happened.
Almost instantly, the Rabbit Talisman on his left hip seemed to sense his life was threatened and suddenly burst forth with dazzling light.
The next second... "Buzz—!"
An indescribable lightness instantly spread throughout his body!
It was as if his body's weight had been stripped away at that moment, and the entire world turned into slow motion in Lin Chen's eyes.
That deadly bullet, now like a slow-moving snail, trailed a long wake before him.
The terrified expressions on the soldiers' faces at the street corner, Hulk's raised fist in the distance, the dust dancing in the air... Everything was clearly visible!
Lin Chen instinctively moved his body to the side.
"Whoosh."
The bullet almost grazed his nose as it flew past, hitting the wall behind him and sending up a shower of sparks.
"Dodged... dodged it?"
Lin Chen's heart swelled with joy.
So he didn't need to touch it with his hand; the Talisman could be triggered by his thoughts, or... was it a passive protection for him?
But before he could ponder it further, he discovered a serious problem.
The Rabbit Talisman had not only given him super vision but also... super speed!
Clearly, his sidestep just now had been too forceful.
"Holy crap, stop... I can't stop!"
Lin Chen's figure left a blurry afterimage on the spot, and he transformed into an arrow shot from a bow, rocketing out at a speed beyond human comprehension.
The wind howled madly in his ears.
The scenery on both sides stretched into flowing color blocks.
He was like an out-of-control human cannonball, plunging out of the street!
Then... "Screech!!!!!"
A deafening screech of brakes, loud enough to tear eardrums, rang out!
Lin Chen's supercar-like speed finally came to a halt.
He didn't stop himself.
He was "stopped" by a collision.
He crashed head-on into the lead vehicle of a row... no, an entire convoy.
A dark green the military armored vehicle, filled with the chilling aura of steel.
"Bang!"
Lin Chen, like a sticker, was plastered firmly onto the front armor of the armored vehicle, then slowly slid to the ground.
Fortunately, the speed from the Rabbit Talisman also granted him corresponding physical strength; otherwise, that impact would have been enough to turn him into a puddle of gore.
"Cough cough... Who the hell drives without looking..."
Lin Chen, disoriented, scrambled to his feet, rubbing his aching forehead, and looked up.
Then, he froze.
More than a dozen the military trucks, armored vehicles, and even two tanks with cannons formed a steel dragon, surrounding him.
Countless dark muzzles protruded from car windows and rooftops, all aimed squarely at him.
An old man with white hair, eyes as sharp as an eagle's, and general's stars on his shoulder, peered halfway out of the lead vehicle's command tower, staring intently at him as if he were an alien creature.
"General Ross, thermal imaging shows... he's just one person."
"A... person who suddenly appeared directly in front of our convoy."
The soldier beside him reported stammering.
General Ross's face was so grim it looked like Water could drip from it.
He had seen it, of course.
This yellow-skinned kid in beach shorts, like a ghost appearing out of thin air, had literally "teleported" in front of him!
In this battlefield ravaged by "monsters," any incomprehensible existence was equivalent to a threat!
"Don't Fire! I'm just passing by!"
Lin Chen, seeing the situation, was scared out of his wits and quickly raised his hands.
His brain spun wildly, and English with a Chinese accent, not fluent but understandable enough, blurted out.
"What kind of international joke is this!"
"Passing by? How did you pass by? Teleportation?!"
General Ross roared, clearly not believing any nonsense.
"Order the troops, change targets!"
"Blast him... to pieces!!!"
"Huh?!"
Lin Chen's eyes instantly widened.
"No way, Sir! I'm the victim here!"
"Boom!!!"
Unfortunately, no one listened to his explanation; his answer was a deafening roar.
The tank nearby, its thick cannon barrel, suddenly spat out a destructive Fire tongue.
An armor-piercing shell, trailing a long exhaust plume, tore through the air and blasted towards Lin Chen's chest!
At this moment, Lin Chen's brain completely short-circuited.
"Damn you all!"
Extreme anger and fear made him completely explode!
"Do you really think I'm a pushover?!"
He roared, his eyes suddenly glowing with dazzling yellow light!
"Buzz!!!!"
Instantly, two violent laser beams, crackling with yellow electrical arcs, shot out from his eyes like two intertwining giant dragons.
This made Lin Chen look like a demon god returned from hell.
"Boom!!!"
The next moment, the two beams struck the shell squarely.
With a massive explosion, the incoming shell was instantly detonated mid-flight.
But the two beams, undiminished in their trajectory, continued through the Fire of the shell's detonation, like two roaring beasts, into the the military's position.
"Rumble—!!!!"
The Pig Talisman's beams solidly struck the tank that had fired!
The steel behemoth, weighing tens of tons, was violently lifted as if by an invisible giant hand; its entire turret was instantly melted through by the high temperature, and the massive hull spun into the air.
Then it crashed heavily to the ground, becoming a pile of burning scrap metal.
Lin Chen blinked, then stopped his ability.
The entire world instantly fell silent.
All the soldiers, including General Ross, were like they had been hit by a paralysis spell, each with their mouths agape, expressions frozen on their faces.
Even Hulk, who was violently pummeling an armored vehicle in the distance, stopped his actions, his angry green eyes looking in this direction with a hint of confusion.
What just happened?
Chapter 3 Talisman vs. Hulk
The entire battlefield fell into an eerie silence.
Only the booming sound of tanks burning.
Beside him, a young soldier's throat made a 'gurgling' sound, stuck in his windpipe. The grip of the vehicle-mounted machine gun in his hand trembled like withered leaves fluttering in the autumn wind. The soft thud of the gunstock hitting the armor plate became the only 'living thing' in this deadly silence.
"He... his eyes glow?"
"I... I didn't see wrong, did I? How did he do that?"
"God, is this still a human being?"
"Are we dealing with one monster... or two?!"
Fear began to spread wildly through the soldiers' rapidly beating hearts.
If Hulk was an incomprehensible brute force natural disaster, then the man in front of them, wearing beach shorts, was a bizarre god or demon that overturned their Worldview!
"General..."
The adjutant's voice carried an uncontrollable tremor.
"Shut up!"
General Ross's teeth ground together, his bloodshot eyes locked onto Lin Chen's figure.
His palm clearly left five damp finger imprints on the steel plate of the command tower.
Was he a Mutant?
He wasn't quite sure.
One Hulk had already brought the entire plan to the brink of losing control.
Now, another Mysterious person who could directly confront a tank had appeared!
And he was a strange person with extraordinary abilities!
Ross had a strong premonition.
This arrest operation... was going to go horribly wrong!
"Roar!!!!"
Breaking the silence was Hulk's characteristic roar, filled with endless fury.
In his simple mind, any existence that could cause great destruction and looked'strong' was a threat!
All were enemies!
All must be torn to shreds!
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Green giant feet stomped on the concrete, each step making the Earth groan.
The street pavement cracked inch by inch like a brittle biscuit.
Hulk, like an out-of-control heavy truck, charged straight at Lin Chen with an aura of world-destroying power.
The oppressive feeling that rushed over them made the surrounding soldiers forget to breathe, as if they would be crushed by this savage force in the next second.
"Oh, you're getting excited, aren't you?"
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. The heroic spirit from just blowing up the tank hadn't dissipated; instead, this brute force had provoked a bit of his temper.
Was there something wrong with this big guy's head? Couldn't he tell who the enemy was?
Or did he think this would make him afraid?
Heh, with the Talismans in hand, why would I avoid your Edge?
Even if he didn't know why these Talismans couldn't unleash their full power, there was absolutely no need to dodge!
So what if there were armies surrounding him?
If it really came to a fight, these people wouldn't even count as cannon fodder.
What's more, there was no 'retreat' in a true man's dictionary!
He watched the approaching green giant fist. Instead of retreating, he slowly turned his body, and the Ox Talismanat his waist flickered slightly.
In an instant, the sense of power he had deliberately suppressed exploded, no longer showing any signs of'struggle'!
"Buzz!!!!"
The golden light was no longer a'small sun,' but transformed into boiling golden flames, gushing from the Talisman and flowing into Lin Chen's body along his waist, even dyeing the air a dazzling gold.
He didn't even exert himself intentionally; he merely tapped the ground with his right foot.
"Boom!"
Unlike Hulk's brute force, Lin Chen's control over power, under the enhancement of the Talisman, had almost reached a pinnacle.
The ground directly collapsed half a meter with him at the center, and spiderweb-like cracks spread for more than ten meters along the street.
Even the military trucks in the distance were shaken a few inches off the ground, producing a harsh metallic screech when they crashed back down.
Lin Chen took a step forward, directly facing Hulk's giant fist, and raised his right arm.
On his face was a look of nonchalant composure.
"Bang!!!!!"
The next second, the golden fist and the green giant fist collided instantly.
Accompanied by a roar far greater than before.
A wave of air exploded from the two, and a white Shockwave, like a tangible giant palm, sent the surrounding soldiers flying backward. The windshields of the military trucks were all shattered, and even the external steel plates of the tanks vibrated!
Hulk's power, enough to flatten a tank, was actually blocked in mid-air by Lin Chen's seemingly light punch!
Even more bizarre, Lin Chen's arm didn't even waver.
The golden light was as steady as a rock, while Hulk's giant arm trembled slightly, his green muscles tensing even more.
Then, Lin Chen tightened his right hand, his fingers gripping the muscles on Hulk's fist.
Then he swung him hard!
"Boom!!!"
Hulk's body was uncontrollably lifted high, then slammed down heavily.
Before he could react, Lin Chen swung him again, smashing him to the other side.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Under continuous heavy blows, Hulk was thrown around, dazed and helpless like a chick.
This scene utterly froze everyone present.
General Ross's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, his fingers unconsciously digging into the steel plate.
"Such... such terrifying strength! Hulk is completely defenseless!"
"Is he a human... or something else?"
The soldiers completely forgot to breathe. The previous thought that these two monsters were somewhat 'evenly matched' was thoroughly shattered.
How was that a tie?
Lin Chen was clearly crushing him!
Even Hulk himself was dazed by the throwing, his angry expression frozen on his face.
His slightly unfocused green pupils were full of confusion.
Why?
Why was this human's strength even steadier than his own?
He even saw Lin Chen had the leisure to free his left hand and smooth his messy hair.
His tone carried a hint of helplessness: "I say, can't we just sit down, have some tea, and chat?"
"At least, let me calm my nerves, okay? I really need to decompress after everything that happened today."
"Roar!!!"
However, his response was Hulk's roar.
The moment Hulk heard his nonchalant words, the bewilderment on his face was replaced by even wilder fury.
In his simple brain, this attitude was clearly categorized as a provocation.
When had Hulk ever suffered such an insult?
He actually dared to hit him!
He quickly broke free from his restraints and leaped up from the ground.
Then he violently raised his arm, his muscles even more bulging than before, and with a fierce wind that tore through the air, he smashed down towards Lin Chen's head.
"Oh my god, is this never-ending?"
Lin Chen cursed, but he really didn't want to clash head-on with this big guy anymore.
After all, he was a civilized man.
Just as Hulk's giant fist was about to strike him, his mind flickered, and the silver light of the Rabbit Talismanflashed and disappeared.
No one saw how Lin Chen moved.
They only felt a blur before their eyes, and the golden figure that had been standing still had already appeared three meters to Hulk's side, not even the hem of his beach shorts being touched by the punch's wind.
Hulk's giant fist struck empty air, and with a 'boom,' a half-meter diameter pit was directly smashed into the ground, sending gravel flying.
Lin Chen leaned against a broken wall on the street, watching the still roaring Hulk, and spread his hands:
"You really are all muscle and no brain. Why can't you understand?"
"If I really wanted to fight you, you wouldn't even be able to touch me."
The golden light on his fingertips receded a bit, and his tone lost its previous fighting spirit, gaining a touch of impatience:
"Big idiot, I have no feud with you, and I don't want to tear down this street. But if you dare to make a move again, I won't be so polite."
These words were not a threat, but a statement.
The surrounding soldiers looked at Lin Chen's calm demeanor, then at the still impotently raging Hulk, and finally realized:
It wasn't that Lin Chen couldn't win; it was that he didn't want to fight from the beginning!
All his previous actions stemmed from the unstable mindset brought on by his recent transmigration.
Just as he said, he now really wanted to find a quiet place to stay for a while and properly sort out his current situation.
On the other side, General Ross's clenched fist slowly relaxed, and the feeling of losing control in his heart grew stronger.
This man in front of him was even more terrifying than Hulk!
Chapter 4 You Are Seeking Death
"Roar!!!"
Unfortunately, Lin Chen's good intentions were not met with a corresponding good will.
Hulk's response was an even more violent roar than before!
"Tsk, truly unyielding."
Lin Chen's voice spread across the battlefield, carrying a hint of impatient calm.
He was like a completely different person now; where was the impatience from his earlier cursing?
He even raised a hand to brush dust off his clothes, looking at the approaching Hulk again, his eyes filled with the playful amusement of "playing with a child."
Since you don't want to reason, then I also know a little bit about fisticuffs.
He never expected this green behemoth, whose head was filled with nothing but rage, to listen to reason; his earlier attempt was merely out of respect for this Marvel native.
After all, before he transmigrated, he truly wanted to befriend these superheroes and see if he had any hope of gaining superhuman abilities through Iron Man's technology or other means.
But now, it was no longer necessary.
Continuing to compete in brute force with this brainless behemoth was a pure waste of time.
In a flash, Lin Chen casually smoothed his hair back with both hands, even skipping the action of pressing a Talisman.
For him, after familiarizing himself with them a few times, the Talismans were no longer tools that "needed to be pressed to activate," but rather an instinct he could call upon at will.
"Buzz!"
The moment the invisible wave spread, in Lin Chen's vision, the entire world suddenly slowed down.
It was as if the entire world had been set to 0.1x slow motion.
Hulk's giant fist, smashing towards his crown, now moved like a sluggish road roller; every detail was clearly visible!
Whether it was the bulging veins on his fist, or every speck of dust kicked up by the wind of his punch, even the trajectory of the flickering rage in Hulk's eyes was as clear as a slow-motion movie scene.
He could even notice the saliva spraying from Hulk's mouth due to the excessive force of this punch.
"Is that all?"
Lin Chen's lips curved into a playful smirk.
He didn't even bother with a large "sidestep" movement; he simply tapped the ground with his toe, and his entire body instantly floated like willow catkins carried by the wind.
He slipped under Hulk's punch at a seemingly casual angle.
To the outside world, only a golden afterimage flashed by; Lin Chen's figure had already appeared behind Hulk, and he even casually patted Hulk's arm.
A tremendous force was also transmitted to Hulk's arm with the pat.
"Boom!!!"
With a loud crash, half of Hulk's body instantly slammed down.
He didn't even understand what had happened; his arm dragged his face into an intimate encounter with the ground.
"Roar...?"
Hulk was stunned.
Who am I? Where am I?
What just happened?
"Hey, big guy, do you need a hand getting up?"
Lin Chen's voice came from behind him; he even kicked Hulk's butt with one foot.
Although no Ox Talisman power was applied, the provocative intent was practically overflowing.
"Roar!!!"
Hulk was completely enraged and fiercely scrambled to his feet.
The moment his legs pushed off the ground, the ground directly cracked into a spiderweb pattern, and his massive body transformed into a green cannonball, charging straight ahead.
He looked as if he intended to smash Lin Chen into a pulp!
"Well met!"
Lin Chen clapped his hands, as if praising Hulk's performance, then his body flashed, once again lightly dodging.
"Boom!!"
Hulk, having lost his target, continued his momentum undiminished, and, unsurprisingly, plunged headfirst into the convoy behind.
The unfortunate Humvee at the front of the convoy was directly smashed into a pile of twisted scrap metal by Hulkand sent tumbling away.
"Over here!"
The next second, Lin Chen's figure appeared on the other side.
"Roar!"
Hulk pounced again.
"Idiot, come and catch me!"
Lin Chen's figure swayed, and he flashed to the other end again.
For a time, the entire battlefield became a comical game of cat and mouse.
Golden lightning streaked back and forth through the ruins, while the green giant, like a wild bull being toyed with, could do nothing but destroy.
"He... he's actually toying with Hulk?!"
Inside the command vehicle, the adjutant's jaw nearly hit the dashboard, his voice distorted.
General Ross's face was so dark it could drip ink, his knuckles white as he clenched the steel plate.
In his opinion, how was this Mysterious person toying with Hulk?
This was clearly a blatant display of skill!
Strength, speed—every ability in his hands completely crushed Hulk.
Even the sense of ease with which he used them exuded a terrifying control over everything.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen stood on top of a overturned armored vehicle, his breathing not even slightly disturbed.
For him, with the Horse Talisman, maintaining the Talisman's abilities was no different from eating and drinking; it required no physical exertion whatsoever.
Looking at Hulk opposite him, his rage had reached its peak, his body swollen to the size of a small tank.
But the angrier he got, the less he could catch that golden afterimage, only able to furiously smash the ground in place, leaving the street riddled with craters.
"Alright, I'm done teasing you; it's time to end this."
Lin Chen shook his wrist, no longer bothering to prolong the engagement.
His palm traced over the Talismans on his belt, finally resting on the [Horse Talisman].
Hulk's rage was essentially a gamma ray-induced mental agitation, similar to dissociative identity disorder, a "symptom" imposed by external forces.
And the [Horse Talisman] possessed the ability to "remove external forces and heal everything," which was precisely the right cure.
"Just in time to test the limits of this Talisman."
Lin Chen watched Hulk charge forward with another roar, not even bothering to dodge, simply standing still.
His right hand casually pressed the [Horse Talisman].
"Buzz!!!"
A soft, pure, milky-white light, as if capable of cleansing all impurities in the world, erupted from Lin Chen's body.
This light was like the nascent sun, warm but not dazzling.
"Roar...?"
Hulk, who was charging, suddenly froze, as if under a stasis spell.
In his gigantic green pupils, the white light was reflected, and the rage in his eyes, which was almost overflowing, seemed to be doused with ice water.
It visibly receded and dissipated, and even his breathing changed from violent roars to heavy gasps.
The bulging veins on his body flattened at a visible rate, and his dark green skin gradually lightened a few shades.
Most importantly, a miraculous trace of clear awareness appeared in his eyes, which had always been consumed by rage.
Dr. Banner's consciousness began to slowly revive.
Hulk stood still, like a green statue deprived of its rage-driven power, even his arms slowly drooping.
"Done."
Lin Chen withdrew his hand, lightly snapped his fingers, looking completely relaxed.
He even took two steps towards Hulk, ready to have a good chat with Banner inside once the big guy fully recovered.
But before he could speak, General Ross in the command vehicle very unseasonably broke the calm.
Inside the command vehicle, General Ross's bloodshot eyes flashed with ruthlessness and determination!
"Both monsters have stopped..."
"This is the best opportunity!"
He grabbed the communicator and, with all his might, issued a chillingly cold command!
"All units!!!"
"Target, lock on to the two individuals in the field!"
"Indiscriminate... full firepower!!!"
"Blast them to smithereens!"
"General?!!!"
The adjutant let out an incredulous cry!
But it was already too late.
"Da da da da da da!!!"
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The next second, tongues of death spat out simultaneously from all directions!
A metal storm composed of heavy machine guns, deadly cannon shells fired by tanks, and even small tracking missiles launched from a distance... a vast death net woven from steel and fire, overwhelmingly enveloped the two figures, one large and one small, standing still in the field!
The recently calmed battlefield instantly became agitated.
The joy on Lin Chen's face instantly froze.
He suddenly looked up, staring at the barrage of projectiles assailing him from all directions, feeling the destructive aura that threatened to completely tear him apart and obliterate him.
His gaze shifted from bewilderment to disbelief.
Finally, it transformed into a chilling, bone-deep killing intent!
"You..."
"Are seeking death!!!"
Chapter 5 Shooting General Ross
That icy, bone-chilling roar was like the trigger that activated the gates of hell.
Golden light almost materialized in Lin Chen's eyes!
He kindly helped them quell a disaster.
What he got in return was an indiscriminate, carpet-bombing attack?
Not even a warning?
They were going to reduce him and Hulk to ashes right away?!
"Good..."
"Very good!"
Lin Chen laughed in extreme anger, his teeth grinding together with a 'clack clack' sound!
"Since you don't play by the rules..."
"Then I'll make the rules for you!"
He suddenly raised his head, ignoring the deadly barrage that was already upon him.
His left hand, like a phantom, brushed his waist.
This time, he pressed the one radiating scorching heat... the Dragon Talisman!
"Buzz!!!"
A terrifying, indescribable high temperature erupted from Lin Chen, engulfing everything around him!
The air, in that instant, ignited and twisted.
The ground in front of him was directly scorched into a glassy state by the escaping, terrifying energy.
Then, Lin Chen took a deep breath, his chest puffing out.
Next, he opened his mouth towards the sky-full of steel rain... "Roar—!!!"
What gushed out was not sound!
But a... world-destroying, crimson torrent of energy!!!
This torrent was like the apocalyptic flames from the depths of a mythical dragon's throat, carrying the tyranny and majesty to incinerate all things!
"Rumble rumble rumble!!!"
Then, an indescribable scene unfolded.
All machine gun bullets vaporized instantly upon contact with this energy.
The roaring tank shells were like ice cubes thrown into a steel furnace, melting away without a sound, leaving no trace.
Even the few tracking missiles were completely detonated into colorful fireworks in mid-air by this terrifying energy torrent!
Immediately after, the golden torrent's momentum remained undiminished!
With an overwhelming force, it instantly swept through all areas in a 180-degree fan shape directly in front of Lin Chen.
Tanks! Armored vehicles! Hummers!
Soldiers! Heavy machine gun positions!
Everything, in front of the Dragon Talisman's terrifying power, was like paper.
Steel was melting!
Life was wailing!
Just three seconds!
When Lin Chen stopped exhaling and closed his mouth again... the entire street in front of him had transformed into a silent, crimson death zone!
Everything had been leveled.
Only flowing molten iron and scorched earth remained.
"..."
"..."
The surviving soldiers, located on the flanks and in the rear, were all stunned.
They held their guns, maintaining their firing stance, yet they were like puppets from which the soul had been drawn, motionless.
Their mouths were agape, wide enough to fit an egg, and their eyes were filled with extreme terror!
What was that?
What... was that?
"It's over..."
In the command vehicle, the adjutant slumped onto the ground, his crotch wet and warm.
General Ross's bloodshot face had now turned a deathly pale.
Even Hulk, who had just regained a sliver of clarity, was stunned.
He looked down at his green fists, then at the cleared death zone in the distance, and a hint of human-like... lingering fear appeared in his huge pupils.
Fortunately... this little guy held back against him just now.
Lin Chen slowly exhaled a puff of smoky air with sparks, his icy gaze locked onto the command vehicle in the distance.
"Want to play?"
"I'll play with you to the end!"
Before his words finished, the Snake Talisman on his belt flickered slightly.
"Swish!"
Lin Chen's figure instantly vanished into thin air.
Completely invisible!
"Where is he?! Where is that monster?!"
The soldiers screamed in terror, but they couldn't find the target at all!
And at the same moment he went invisible, the Rabbit Talisman also lit up.
Acceleration!
"Buzz!"
In Lin Chen's vision, time slowed down again.
"Whoosh—!"
An invisible phantom, moving at a terrifying speed beyond the speed of sound, cut a straight path across the battlefield.
Straight for that armored command vehicle!
"General! Retreat quickly! The situation is not..."
Inside the command vehicle, a radio operator was shouting hoarsely.
However, before he could finish his sentence... "Boom!!!"
A loud bang!
The command vehicle's several-inch-thick alloy side door, as if struck head-on by a battering ram, directly twisted, deformed, and caved inward, then with a "bang," it was completely torn off and sent flying by an invisible immense force!
"Ah!!!"
The adjutant and soldiers inside the vehicle let out terrified screams!
General Ross's pupils suddenly contracted, and he instinctively reached for the pistol at his waist!
However... his hand met with empty air.
A cold, hard object was already pressed firmly against his temple.
Accompanying it was an icy voice, as if from the netherworld.
"Are you looking for it?"
The air seemed to solidify.
Lin Chen's figure slowly materialized from the void, holding General Ross's M1911 pistol in his hand.
A wisp of smoke was rising from the muzzle.
General Ross's body stiffened, and cold sweat instantly soaked his military uniform.
He could feel that what was pressed against his head was his own service pistol!
He hadn't even seen how the other party got in! How he took his gun!
"Ceasefire..."
Lin Chen's voice was devoid of emotion, as he spoke calmly to the radio operator inside the vehicle.
The radio operator, who had been scared senseless, clutched at this lifeline and, with a trembling voice, relayed the order.
Soon, the entire battlefield fell into a deadly silence.
General Ross swallowed hard, forcing himself to appear calm as he spoke.
"Young man, you are very strong, stronger than imaginable."
"But do you know that your current actions are an act of war against the entire U.S. of America?!"
"Put down the gun immediately! This is your only chance! I can..."
"Heh."
Lin Chen let out a soft chuckle, interrupting him.
"Old man."
Lin Chen's eyes were filled with pity, as if he were looking at an incurable idiot.
"Is there something wrong with your brain?"
"Just now, you ordered to indiscriminately blast me to smithereens."
"Now, my gun is at your head, and you're threatening me in return?"
General Ross's face instantly flushed red: "You dare to kill me?! Do you know who I am?!"
"Of course I do."
Lin Chen nodded, his tone terrifyingly calm.
"An idiot who doesn't understand the situation and is about to die..."
"You..."
General Ross still wanted to say something.
But Lin Chen was already too lazy to listen to his nonsense.
"You were going to kill me, so why would I keep you alive for the New Year?"
"Bang—!!!"
A gunshot rang out, incredibly crisp in the dead silent command vehicle!
General Ross's bloodshot eyes instantly widened, filled with disbelief!
Then, the latter half of his sentence, along with half of his head, exploded!
Red and white splattered all over the interior walls of the vehicle.
And also splattered the adjutant's face next to him.
"Ah—!!!"
The adjutant let out a pig-like shriek.
Lin Chen expressionlessly flicked the muzzle, and casually threw Ross's pistol onto his warm, headless corpse.
Then, in front of all the survivors in the vehicle.
"Pleh!"
He spat on Ross's corpse.